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Covid 19-Related Lesson Plans
Covid 19-Related Lesson Plans
Biology: How do Germs/Viruses Work and How to Prevent Them!
Biology: How do Germs/Viruses Work and How to Prevent Them!
Teach students why it is important to wash your hands with soap in order to get rid of germs and bacteria that are on your hands which make you sick!
Salt and Pepper Experiment
Salt and Pepper Experiment
Why is it important to wash your hands?
Why is it important to wash your hands?
This experiment is a good demonstration on why soap is important when washing your hands. In this experiment, the pepper represents germs that are present on your hands and they show how they react when they come in contact with soap! But why do they do this? Well, soap is made up of molecules with a dual (dual means two) nature-- one end is attracted to water and hates fat and proteins, and the other end hates water and is attracted to fat and proteins.
A virus, like the coronavirus, has this sort of shell around it that is made up of fat and proteins. If you wash your hands with soap, the virus' shell breaks so it is able to be washed away with the water and is no longer on your hands. In the experiment you see how the "germs" don't react to the water at all. Just washing your hands with water will not do anything to the virus' shell and it will continue to live on your hands.With the coronavirus, it is important to wash your hand for at least 20 seconds so the soap can do its job of breaking down the shell and completely removing the virus from your hands.
Why Is It Important To Use Soap And Not Just Hand Sanitizer?
Why Is It Important To Use Soap And Not Just Hand Sanitizer?
Hand sanitizers are not as effective as soap in killing a germs that may be on your hands. Unlike soap, it may kill some of the germs that are present, but it may not be as effective in killing all of the germs like soap does. It is a good option when soap and water are not available, just make sure to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Apply enough product to cover the hands and rub hands together for about 20 seconds until the skin is dry. Never rinse or wipe off hand sanitizer before it is dry because it may not work against germs, and try to wash your hands as soon as soap and water is available.
Biology: How Does Cross Contamination Work?
Biology: How Does Cross Contamination Work?
Teach students how exactly germs/viruses spread and why it is so important to not only sanitize our hands, but also sanitize the items around us.
What is Cross Contamination?
What is Cross Contamination?
Cross Contamination is the process in which bacteria unintentionally transfers (or move from place to another) from one person/object to another, with harmful effects.
Why is cross contamination dangerous?
Why is cross contamination dangerous?
Cross contamination is dangerous because it makes it easy for harmful bacteria and viruses to spread and infect others. This is really dangerous because viruses can live on different surfaces for a long time! For example, Covid-19 can live on:
Metal- 5 days
Examples-- jewelry, doorknobs, silverware
Wood- 4 days
Examples-- furniture, decking
Plastics- 2-3 days
Examples-- packaging, containers, bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons
Stainless Steal- 2-3 days
Examples-- refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks.
Cardboard- 24 hours
Examples: shipping boxes
Copper- 4 hours
Examples: pennies, teakettles, cookware
Aluminum- 2-8 hours
Examples: soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles
Glass- 5 days
Examples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows
Ceramics- 5 days
Examples: dishes, pottery, mugs
Paper- Few Minutes up to 5 days
Cross Contamination Activity
Cross Contamination Activity
One experiment you can do at home to see how cross contamination works is by using gloves and washable kid's paint!
Items you will need:
Gloves
Face mask (For the sketch portion)
Washable kid's paint
Pieces of Paper-- they will act as the different groceries that you are buying at the store!
Phone-- cover it with paper so it won't get paint all over it!
Let's do Some Acting!
Let's do Some Acting!
You're going to have to do a little bit of acting for this experiment! You are going to pretend that you are going to the supermarket to buy some groceries for the week!
You are going to start off by washing your hands with soap for 20 second so you know that your hands are nice and clean before you put on your gloves.
Next, you are going to play out your normal safety precautions you take before going to the store-- putting on your face mask and putting on your gloves!
Now you are at the store! You grab the shopping cart and start to shop around! This is when you start dip your fingers into the washable paint because you are officially contaminated. Every time you "grab" something on the self, you dip your fingers on the paint. As you can see each time you touch something, not only are you getting contaminated but you are also contaminating.
Oh! You got a phone call! You need to answer you phone! Someone in your home ask if you could buy some cookies! You put your phone away and keep shopping!
Finally you go to the check out isle and you pay for all the groceries that you got! Once you get home, you take your gloves off and dispose of them properly, you make sure to clean your hands with soap for 20 seconds just to make sure they are nice and clean!
But did you forget something? Did you sanitize your phone from when that person called you at the market? What about all your groceries that you or someone else touches at the supermarket?
It is really important to wash your hands to make sure that they are nice and clean, but if other objects are not clean, that opens to perfect opportunity for cross contamination to spread across areas that would otherwise been free of the virus!
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